Current Affairs September 2019 - Defence

1 - DRDO successfully test fires Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile

India successfully test-fired a sophisticated all-weather and all-terrain Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) against live aerial targets from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. The state-of-the-art missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the India Army.

The systems are equipped with indigenously developed Phased array radar, Inertial Navigation System, Data Link & RF seeker. The system is being developed for Indian Army with search and track on move capability with very short reaction time.

2 - Indo-Sri Lanka maritime fleet exercise - SLINEX 2019

The annual Joint Indo-Lanka maritime fleet exercise - SLINEX 2019 was held at Visakhapatnam. The exercise was held from 7^th September to 14^th September. Sri Lankan Navy's offshore patrol vessels, SLNS Sindurala and Suranimala, participated in the exercise.

The exercise features wide ranging naval exercises including helicopter operations. It was attended by 323 SLN personnel including the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Fleet. It will enable both navies to rehearse and improve own capabilities and enhance operational effectiveness required to maintain maritime security in the Indian Ocean region.

3 - Indo-US joint military Exercise Yudh Abhyas - 2019

The joint military exercise between India and US, Yudh Abhyas 2019, was held at the Joint Base Lewis McChord, in Washington, USA. The exercise is one of the largest joint running military training and defence corporation endeavours between India and USA. This was the 15^th edition of the joint exercise hosted alternately between the two countries.

The Indian side was represented by “The Assam Regiment”. Both sides jointly trained, planned and executed a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in UN peace keeping operations.

4 - 28^th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) held in Bangkok

The 28^th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand. Indian Naval (IN) Ship Kesari and His Majesty’s Thailand Ship (HTMS) Kraburi along with Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both the navies participated in the CORPAT.

The 28^th cycle of Indo-Thai CORPAT is poised to further enhance strong bilateral ties and maritime cooperation between India and Thailand. The Objectives of the Indo-Thai CORPAT are to ensure effective implementation of United Nations Conventions on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).

5 - IAF resurrects 17 Squadron 'Golden Arrows' for Rafale

The Indian Air Force (IAF) resurrected the Air Force Station Ambala-based 17 Squadron 'Golden Arrows', which will operate the first squadron of Rafale fighter jets in the near future. The resurrection ceremony was presided over by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa.

The squadron was formed at Ambala on 01^st Oct 1951 under the command of Flight Lieutenant D L Springett and was then equipped with Harvard-II B aircraft. Under the command of then Wing Commander BS Dhanoa, Golden Arrows participated actively in Operation Safed Sagar in 1999.

6 - Indo-Thailand Joint Military Exercise Maitree - 2019

Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-2019 between India and Thailand was conducted at Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya). Indian and Royal Thailand Army (RTA) comprising 50 soldiers each participated in the exercise with an aim to share experience gained during various counter terrorism operations in their respective countries.

Exercise MAITREE is an annual training event which is being conducted alternatively in Thailand and India since 2006. Exercise MAITREE with Thailand is a significant in terms of the security challenges faced by both the nations.

7 - India began exporting bulletproof jackets to over 100 countries

India has begun exporting bulletproof jackets as per its own standards to over 100 countries including European nations. India is the fourth country after the US, UK and Germany to have its own national standard on the bulletproof jacket which provides 360-degree protection.

Bureau of Indian Standards has set standards better than international standards for bulletproof jackets, made under the Make in India campaign. India’s lightest bullet-proof jacket weighing 9.2 kgs ‘Bhabha Kavach’, was launched at International Police Expo 2019.

8 - INS Khanderi to be commissioned into the Indian Navy

India's second Scorpene-class attack submarine INS Khanderi will be commissioned into the Navy by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Mumbai on September 28. The first Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari was commissioned into the Indian Navy in December 2017. The third Scorpene-class submarine INS Karanj will join the Indian Naal fleet in Jan 2020.

Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd has built its diesel-electric submarine. Under the Project 75 programme, India is committed to building six Scorpene-class submarines at the cost of $ 3 billion contract signed between French company Naval Group, DCNS, and MDL.

9 - DRDO handed over second ‘Netra’ (AEWC) aircraft to IAF

Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) handed over the second airborne warning plane, Netra to Indian Air Force. The Netra, an Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft had played a stellar role during the Balakot air strikes. It provided surveillance and radar coverage to the five Mirage jets that bombed terror launch pads in Balakot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.

Netra is useful for surveillance, tracking, identification and classification of airborne and sea surface targets and is useful in detecting incoming ballistic missile threats.

10 - INS Tarkash at Walvis Bay, Namibia

In continuation of the Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to Africa, Europe and Russia, Indian Naval Ship Tarkash made a port call at Walvis Bay, Namibia for a three days’ visit. The port call by INS Tarkash at Walvis Bay is a demonstration of India’s warm ties with Namibia and its commitment to enhance operational reach, maritime security and its solidarity with friendly nations.

INS Tarkash is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet and is under the operational Command of Flag Officer Commanding – in –Chief, Western Naval Command, based at Mumbai.

11 - War-gaming software handed over to Indian Navy

Institute for Systems Studies and Analysis (ISSA) Delhi, a premier DRDO laboratory, has designed and developed a new generation War-gaming Software in collaboration with Maritime Warfare Centre, Visakhapatnam to meet the contemporary operational and tactical level war-gaming requirement for the Indian Navy. The War-gaming Software was handed over by Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy to Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar at ISSA.

The key focus enables Maritime Warfare Centres (MWCs) to train using the latest technological and computing tools.

12 - DAC approved Capital Procurement of Rs 2,000 crores

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded approval for Capital Procurement for the Services amounting to approximately Rs 2,000 crores. DAC accorded approval for indigenous development and production of the main gun 125mm Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding-Sabot (APFSDS) ammunition for T-72/T-90 tanks by the Indian Industry, which would substantially enhance the enemy armour penetration capability.

DAC also approves procurement of DRDO developed and Industry manufactured Mechanical Mine Layer (Self Propelled) to improve automated minelaying capability with the Indian Army.

13 - First-ever ‘arrested landing’ of Naval Tejas successfully executed

DRDO and the Aeronautical Development Agency successfully executed the first-ever arrested landing of Light Combat Aircraft(LCA) Tejas (Navy) at the shore-based test facility in Goa. This will allow the naval variant of the Tejas to eventually operate from an aircraft carrier. With this, India became among a select group of nations having the capability to design a jet which can land on an aircraft carrier.

This will pave the way for this indigenous platform to undertake Aircraft Carrier landing demonstration onboard the Indian aircraft carrier, Vikramaditya.

14 - ISRO signed MoUs with DRDO

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for development of human centric systems for the Human Space Mission to demonstrate its human space flight capabilities.

Some of the critical technologies to be provided by DRDO to ISRO include space food, space crew health monitoring and emergency survival kit, radiation measurement and protection, parachutes for safe recovery of crew module and others. ISRO aims to demonstrate human spaceflight capability before the 75^th anniversary of India’s independence in 2022.

15 - Air-to-Air missile Astra successfully flight tested from Su-30 MKI

The indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile, ASTRA, has been successfully flight tested off the coast of Odisha. The missile was launched from Su-30 MKI as a part of User trials.

The Astra missile has a range of over 70 kilometers and can fly towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 kilometres per hour (4.5 Mach). The missile has a 15 kilogramme high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead. IAF is also in the process to integrate the Astra with its Dassault Mirage 2000, Mikoyan-Gurevic MiG-29 fighters as well as the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

16 - SITMEX- Trilateral Maritime exercise of Singapore, India and Thailand held

A 5-day maiden trilateral exercise of Singapore, India and Thailand named SITMEX was held from September 16, 2019 at Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The exercise aimed to strengthen the maritime relationships of the three countries and to enhance security.

The exercise had two phases

Shore phase at Port Blair which involved activities like professional exchanges and sports fixtures.
Sea phase at the Andaman sea that involved activities like surface and air operations with Gunnery, force protection measures and communication drill.

17 - Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat takes over as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat received the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) baton from outgoing Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa. General Bipin Rawat has been a member of COSC since January 2017. During his tenure in COSC, the Committee has deliberated on a number of diverse issues ranging from operations, training and administration.

As the next Chairman COSC, General Rawat is focused to operationalise the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), enhance Tri-Service integration and synchronisation of modern war fighting capabilities.

18 - DRDO and Central University of Jammu sign MoU

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence and Central University of Jammu (CUJ) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of Kalam Centre for Science and Technology (KCST) at the university.

The main objective of the MoU is to undertake and facilitate multidisciplinary directed basic and applied research and technology development in the identified research verticals namely; Computational System Security and Sensors. The centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment leading to increase in research scholars in these areas.

19 - Sea Phase of maiden IN-RSN-RTN Trilateral Exercise began

Sea Phase of maiden SITMEX-19 (Singapore India Thailand Maritime Exercise), between Indian Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) commenced in the Andaman Sea.

IN Ships Ranvir, a Guided Missile Destroyer, Kora, a Missile Corvette, Sumedha, an Offshore Patrol Vessel along with Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft P8I are jointly exercising with RSS Tenacious, a Formidable-class Guided Missile Stealth Frigate and HTMS Kraburi, a Guided Missile Frigate to enhance maritime interoperability between the participating navies. Sea Riders have also been exchanged between participating ships to provide experience sharing of best practices.

20 - Indian army conducted exercise ‘Chang Thang’ in Eastern Ladakh

The Indian Army conducted a massive rare exercise ‘Chang Thang’ involving all its arms and services including tanks, artillery and helicopters, in Eastern Ladakh, for testing and improving its war-fighting capabilities. It was conducted at an altitude of over 12,000-feet near the Line of Actual Control.

First of its kind exercise involved the use of infantry, mechanised forces, T-72 tanks, with force multipliers such as artillery guns and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The army will conduct another major exercise, Him Vijay, in Arunachal Pradesh in Oct 2019.

21 - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Varaha

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Varaha at a special function held at Chennai Port. The ship is the fourth in the series of seven offshore patrol vessels of the Coast Guard. It can attain a maximum speed of 26 knots and has endurance of 5000 nautical miles.

The 98-metre offshore patrol vessel ICGS Varaha has been designed and constructed indigenously. It is equipped with 30-milimetre gun and has an integrated bridge system, platform management systems, automated power management system and high power external fire fighting system.

22 - Exercise MALABAR 2019

The 23^rd edition of the trilateral naval exercise involving the United States, Japan and India started on 26^th September off the coast of Japan. The Indian Navy was represented by stealth frigate INS Sahyadri, AsW corvette INS Kiltan and a Boeing P-8I Neptune aircraft.

The aim of the Malabar exercise is to achieve deeper military ties and greater interoperability among the three navies in the strategically-important Indo-Pacific region.

23 - India-US Tri-Services ''Exercise Tiger Triumph'' to be held in November

India and the United States will hold their first tri-services exercise called "Tiger Triumph" at Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in November 2019.

Final Planning Conference (FPC) for India-US Tri-Services Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) concluded at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command on September 20. This is for the first time, the US and India will be holding the tri-service military exercise. India earlier conducted such tri-service exercise with Russia.